My personal and old squad rules were "If you're the 3rd man in, you're in the wrong place."
I think this is key. Most folks dont even realize it because they are so desperate for a kill. Ganging a plane 3 on 1 is poor SA. Drawing three 3 planes to the deck removes alt superiority from 3 planes. If your team can capitalize on that, its a win for the team. Not really you though
. The "dogpile phenomenon" I like to call it. I noticed this in Combat Challenge furballs. Planes come in high, chase low planes, then high planes chase them. And eventually everyone is low on the deck chasing and gettng dogpiled. Rense and repeat. Once you understand how to counter the phenomenon, then you have a better chance at staying alive and getting more kills. But without friendlies, I think ganging has ran more players out of the game than anyone can imagine. Its why so many play FSO but not as much in the MA, until Friday night when its popping till 11. Thats when AH feels sorta like it use to.
It is never necessary to triple a player, much less them be in a midwar or earlier plane. I cannot stand it. I have a what looks like a great fight, and then some 190d gotta be zooming through or a yak3 to catch me so him and them can jump on in when I dont make it easy on his first pass, just bring the konga line, and then I put 18 rounds in em on the overshoot and do nothing half the time. It makes AH so much damn harder. No one has a chance against 3 190Ds and a yak3 with a spit16, NIK with 4 cannons and crazy climb, and let's throw in a Temp just to really make sure they dont have a single chance....
Its why ive practiced the art of defense for over a decade. Getting a shot on the overshoot and pulling reversals is the key to having a chance in those situations. Most players dont want to learn defense tactics or understand how to avoid BnZ noobs. Most just grab the easiest planes and do it too because they don't know another way and dont want to ask and learn. Back when I practiced with all the AH Jedis in 06, there was never any beefin and fights weren't in jest. We were all learning the art of ACM and practicing it. Now look at what the MA has become. No one even talks about ACM. Theres no place to even practice it anymore. The art of ACM is dying. I dont know what to do, but unfortunately AH cant have unwritten rules and dignity in fighting in the MA.
You bascially said it the other day Caldera and I couldn't respond. You said that's how its always been. And you're right. Its just harder than its ever been i think because of lack of #s. Makes it really easy to get ganged by Uber rides with no friendlies around to help. I wish I could make a rule but what can ya do? Unfortunately the phenomenon is natural instinct, untrained, and there's no way to train them..
